Sheila Jackson Lee, Worst Boss In Congress? Goes Through 11 Chiefs Of Staff In 11 Years

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) has one of the highest staff turnover rates in Congress, having gone through 11 chiefs of staff in the past 11 years, according to an analysis by the Houston Chronicle.

The analysis showed that the chiefs of staff served less than a year on average. The average length of stay for a chief of staff in all U.S. House offices is 6.7 years, according to the Sunlight Foundation.

Jackson Lee regularly appears on Washingtonian magazine's list of the “Best and Worst of Congress” as the “meanest” member of House of Representatives.

Another Jackson Lee aide recounts the time her parents came to Washington to visit: “They were really excited to come to the congressional office. They’re small town people, so for them it was a huge deal. They were actually sitting in the main lobby waiting area….[Jackson Lee] came out screaming at me over a scheduling change. Called me a ’stupid idiot. Don’t be a moron, you foolish girl’ and actually did this in front of my parents, of all things.”

Yet another staffer remembers requesting a meeting early on in her tenure to ask how best to serve the congresswoman. Jackson Lee’s response: “What? What did you say to me? Who are you, the Congresswoman? You haven’t been elected. You don’t set up meetings with me! I tell you! You know what? You are the most unprofessional person I have ever met in my life.” With that, Jackson Lee hung up the phone.
According to the same staffer, Jackson Lee “would always say, ‘What am I a prostitute? Am I your prostitute? You can’t prostitute me.’”

Jackson Lee said in a statement to the Houston Chronicle that her staff works hard and has fun, “and I am grateful that together we have been able to work consistently for our constituents.”

“Further, I am delighted for the new opportunities my staff has been able to secure after their service in our office,” she said.